This account of the first continental herding
trial, which was held in May 1892 in Belgium,
is in the Book, L'Historique du Berger Belge
(History of the Belgian Sheepdog), by Georges
Van Ceulebroeck, 1983, Concord/Imprimerie de
Charleroi, Presles, Belgium.
The Sheepdog Trials
The tests of working sheepherding dogs, organized
by the Collie Club and the Club of the Belgian
shepherd dog, took place on the 1st and 2nd of
May, 1892, on the premises of the market and slaughterhouse
of Cureghem, Brussels. The land, wide meadows
cut by streams and banks, had been well prepared
for the event. A grandstand sheltered a large
audience; at the center were the judges: Mr. Dangis
of Tinlot (Liege), president; Mr. Lousse of Obaix-Buzet;
Mr. Pinte of Fexhe le Haut-Clocher (Liege), Mr.
Sillekens of Anderlecht; and Mr. Wouters of Lierre.
A flock of 200 sheep, crossed merino and native
French from Magdeburg, raised in the sheepfold,
had been supplied free of charge by Dewolf, rue
Joseph Plateau, Brussels.
These lambs, much more difficult to drive than
the sheep accustomed to dogs, were found enclosed
by tens in a series of small pens situated toward
the far end of the meadow and looking out on a
triangular space defined by a plow furrow and
in which a small pen was emptied for each dog.
The shepherd stood at the exit of this funnel,
on the road, between two stakes.
He sent his dog to get the small flock, which
must accompany him on the six- to eight-meter-wide
road marked by the furrows, passing in an S-curve
over 2 bridges and an earthen bank, to come to
the gate of a latticework enclosure leading to
a sheepfold of tightly joined planks. This course
of about 200 meters had to be completed in less
then 10 minutes.
When all goes well, nothing appears more simple
than this walk of a man followed by 10 sheep pursued
by a dog.
But this doesn't always go easily and, when all
went well one had to admire the composure and
the presence of mind of the shepherd, and even
more the wisdom, even temper and often the initiative
of the dog. If, in going to find his little flock,
the dog does not use the greatest caution, if
he frightens his sheep, it's all over.
It had been agreed to assign a penalty to the
dog each time that it lets a sheep leave the course,
2 points if two or more leave, 5 points if the
dog bit an ear, 10 for biting the front foot or
the throat, from 5 to 10 if he barked. Dogs which
bit excessively would be disqualified from the
competition. For the remainder (irregularities
in the way of going, eccentric gait, etc.), the
judges would decide.
All is ready. The shepherds advance, their dogs
on leash; they cross the plain and go to hide
behind the fence concealing the penned sheep.
It is the right moment to take a photo.
When one sees this moving procession, the men
do not need to be carrying a crook to indicate
their profession. Although of different colors
and with various coats, all the dogs indicate
well the shepherd dog type. And we say to ourselves
- but why on earth haven't all these beautiful
animals been shown? They would certainly be awarded
prizes! Alas! We must ward off this feeling. We
have frequently noticed that animals of the same
breed always seem more beautiful in a group than
they really are. Does this optical effect come
from looking at them with a paternal eye? Do we
see only the beautiful side?
Always, it is that individuals in a group of
very similar animals become more difficult to
examine in detail and that finally one does not
find one single type to be proposed as an ideal.
The dogs compete in the order indicated by drawing
lots.
#17 Faro, of Mr. A. Thibeau of Fexhe-le-Haut-Clocher
(Liege), begins. The 10 sheep are released, they
crowd one against the other; the shepherd in vain
commands his dog to go get them: this dog is hardly
worried. After having granted him 10 long minutes,
the jury excuses him from the competition, and
the sheep -- which it would have been unfair to
entrust to the following dog -- are driven to
the other end of the course by one man and a second
backs him up.
#2 N., of Mr. Fr. Nelis, Contich, did not compete.
#18 Picard, of Mr. Thibeau of Voroux Goreux
(Liege). It is 1:58 p.m. The dog makes a number
of circles around his little flock. He appears
very ardent, too ardent in proportion to the small
number of sheep to drive. A sheep splits off,
then two more further on. It happens again and
again, resulting in 7 penalty points; he finished
the course in 3 minutes.
#3 Voss, of Mr. Ferd. Willems of Forest, is a
very calm old red dog. He quickly finished the
course, driving the 10 sheep before him.
#9 Louis, of Mr. Guillaume Duchene, Poix (Luxembourg),
a dark grey with a wire coat, begins by letting
a sheep split off, another escapes and returns
on its own. The dog bites it on the haunch. The
dog is a little rough and panics its sheep; it
lets two more split off on the way; and then a
general stampede. One of the sheep is carried
to the sheepfold on the back of one of the helpers.
#20 Picard, a 9-year-old shorthaired black,
of Mr. Van Camp, rue de Brabant, Schaerbeek. This
dog crosses behind his flock at a respectful distance.
The handler must be an excellent shepherd. The
whole flock goes out of bounds and the dog loses
2 points. Picard must be excellent in the fields:
he has an eye on his flock. He still loses 4 points
for the sheep having left the road, and brought
them in in 3 minutes.
#7 Pierrot, a grey-black with long coarse hair,
of Mr. J. Colasse, lnstitut de Gembloux. The dog
drives his flock from behind without unduly disturbing
it, the shepherd commands well. Arriving in front
of a bridge, the sheep jump off the side. A little
farther, they all stop. The dog makes a big spurt,
the sheep scatter and return to the pen on their
own.
#16 Moef, a pale red, without tail, with a woolly
coat, of Mr. Verbest-Verdussen, Heyst-op-den-Berg.
Moef doesn't work, loses 5 points for having barked,
the sheep pass, but don't make much progress.
The 10 minutes run out and the dog is excused
from the competition.
#11 Paul, of Mr. Ch. Demulder, of Forest, a
black dog with short hair, very lively. The sheep
go to the water (2 points); they escape at a gallop
and stray (2 points); the dog goes to get them.
One sheep has gone very far to the top of the
bank; it defends itself but Paul doesn't bite.
An excellent dog; it's unfortunate that he had
to deal with a crazy sheep. The flock passes several
more times. Paul is good, but porly handled; in
addition, the judges take into account his having
drawn the crazy sheep.
#8 Mol, brindle with short coat, of Mr. Kneepens,
chausee de Wavre, Brussels. The sheep stay back,
the dog fetches them: very good. Some sheep split
off two times. The dog is too strong for this
job, he barks; the sheep stray once again, another
bark. The dog's work is irregular; the sheep go
too fast because they are too pressured, Mol will
not be called back [for the final competition
on the following day].
#1 Poest, of Mr. J. DeSmedt, Bouchout near Anvers,
a young dog with short hair, red, without tail.
The shepherd goes very quickly; his dog is excessively
prudent and doesn't make a single unnecessary
move. In two minutes the flock is at its destination;
but at the moment of passing through the gate,
the dog was behind the fence of the shut sheepfold,
and the sheep veer left. Two remain outside. The
dog fetches them correctly; but such lost time!
A very good dog and well handled.
#13 Marquis, a black without a tail, of Mr.
Gust. De Mulder, chausse d' Anvers, Molenbeek.
The sheep stray (2 points); the dog barks (5 points);
they stray again (2 points); more barking (5 points),
and the flock is repenned well, after three minutes.
Adding up, we find 14 points deducted.
#10 Bless, a grey with long coarse coat, of
Mr. Willem Delaet, Dilbeek. The sheep stray, Bless
goes to get them, making a large curve; he circles
them yet three more times. A sheep tumbles into
a brook, two men extract it covered with slime,
the other sheep mingle with the public around
the grandstand. The dog does not appear worried
about it; the dog is removed.
#6 Major, wire coat, pale reddish grey, without
tail, of Mr. Ch. Duyk, rue Vesale, Brussels. The
sheep cross the furrow. The dog stops on command,
and goes to hide himself. Good work, beautiful
penning.
#19 Mure, black dog, of Mr. Van Geel, Brussels.
The sheep run toward the town, the dog pursues
them but does not bring them back; one of them
is lost. Naturally, this dog will not be called
back [for the next day's competition].
#22 X, a black with short coat, of Mr. Van Bakel,
Rouge Cloitre, Auderghem. The sheep do not pass
through the two stakes at the entrance of the
course and the dog loses 2 points, it barks (5
points). The dog is very good and quick. The repenning
is accomplished in 2-1/2 minutes.
#25 X, a large black and white dog with woolly
coat, of Mr. Alph. Lacasse of Ochain. It lets
the sheep stray two times, barks two times. This
dog, rather grippy and excessively lively, is
a little young and by far much too fiery for 10
sheep. He would be excellent for driving a flock
of 200-300 head every day.
#4 Basoef, an old brindle dog with short hair,
without tail, of Mr. J.-B. Janssen of Laeken.
The shepherd having run the whole way, which should
be taken as incorrect, repenned his sheep in 1-1/2
minutes. The dog was not very careful.
#5
Voss, a fine old pale yellow dog, handled by
an old man, Mr. Adrien Janssen, the father
of the previous exhibitor. The dog, very careful,
works well off the stock, but always watches;
approaches at once on command. It is perfect.
There are three rounds of applause from the grandstand.
The public demands "La Brabanconne"!
#11 Paul, black with long soft coat, with an
admirable beauty in action. He has the elegance
of the collie. He knows how to inspire confidence
in his sheep. He comes too far in front; the shepherd
commands him to get back. Very good.
#24 Nette, very small black and white bitch,
of Mr. Jacques Kneepkens, chausee de Louvain,
Schaerbeek. From the beginning, the little bitch
works too close and frightens her sheep; they
take off too quickly; the dog comes too near and
in front. Some sheep split off -- once, twice;
the dog barks, three times. Useless to continue
counting up the point deductions.
#15 Milord, 4 years, black and grey speckled
[probably blue merle] with long coat, of Mr. Van
Bogget, chausee d'Alsemberg 327, Uccle. Milord
goes ahead of the sheep which are following well.
They stop; Milord fetches them. The shepherd has
a very intelligent manner, places his dog in front
when the dog wasn't needed, but as soon as the
sheep have to be pushed, Milord is in position.
It is the right tactic. Perfect.
#12 Menneke, of Mr. Ch. De Mulder, rue du Moulin,
Forest. A little brownish-black dog, with smooth
hair, not much bigger than a schipperke. The same
manner of handling the dog in front and at a distance.
It is perfect, and there's no lack of applause
from the audience.
The first round is ended. The course will be
repeated tomorrow at one o'clock. The judges decided
to call back nos. 18, 3, 20, 14, 1, 6, 22, 4,
5, 11, 15 and 12.
Second Day
The stands begin to fill toward two o'clock.
#3 begins at 2:12; he worked well and repenned
his sheep in three minutes with 4 point deductions.
#14: He took the same number of minutes and received
the same number of deductions; his work was passable.
#20 Picard, the old 16-yead-old dog, was too
quick. A sheep breaks away, then two split off
two times; the dog brings them back, all very
animatedly. All the flock scatters in front of
the pen. Good work, but Picard had bad luck and
had 9 bad points.
#6 Major, the old travelling dog with coarse
coat and without a tail. The sheep are hurried,
the shepherd is obliged to stop them several times
with his cane; one of them splits off, escapes,
and in going to get it at a distance of 100 metres
the dog performs a beautiful feat. He stays always
on the side, his driving is extra close at the
sheepfold, but from it he has no fewer than 7
points deducted.
#4 Basoef is handled by a very shrewd shepherd,
too shrewd, for yesterday he had run all the way,
but the dog didn't have any faults. Today all
the sheep go out of bounds; further on, one splits
off. At the moment of repenning, the dog goes
to hide along the fence, the flock halts, two
sheep want to break away, but the old dog is alert.
Basoef listens well, he worked well. The sheep
are repenned in 4 minutes.
#5 The old dog Voss with his old master. The
dog, whose work had been perfect the day before,
goes in front, makes big turns on command and
doesn't receive any deductions, but the old shepherd
did not succeed in containing his own eagerness
and ran three times. Now, before resuming the
competition, it had been agreed to give-2 penalties
each time that a shepherd did not remain at a
walk. It is not permitted to run except when the
flock passes by a path between two crops. In that
case one must not allow the sheep the time to
seize anything during the passage.
#22 The black dog with short hair which yesterday
had 7 points, 5 of which were for barking, doesn't
make many mistakes this time. He repens the sheep
very well in 3 minutes.
#15 Milord, whose work had been perfect yesterday,
again worked perfectly today. He holds himself
in front and completed the course in 4-1/2 minutes.
#12 Menneke, the small black dog, is obedient
and handled well. He doesn't make a single mistake.
Besides, the good shepherds have the best dogs.
Menneke is curious: for fear of frightening the
sheep when they were driven out of the park, he
begins by hiding himself behind the fence and
looking through the cracks to see if he's needed.
1 Poets
[spelled "Poest" above], the
red dog with short hair, who lost 4 points yesterday,
works without a single fault today. He is calm
and gentle.
#11 Paul, the beautiful black, has but one very
small fault to his liabilities -- he has let a
single sheep stray. This dog doesn't appear to
work enough.
The tests of the second day lacked variety, and
that is understandable: one saw only the better
dogs doing their job correctly. There aren't any
more of those general stampedes that make the
public laugh; no more sheep half lamed, no baths,
no barking, no hot tempers. The judges have included,
and to make a diversion, that as it was only 3-1/2
hours [for all the runs to be completed], the
jury has invited the shepherd Van Bogget with
his Milord to get the 110 sheep beyond the sheepfold
-- not in competition, of course. It takes several
men to take out the flock. A steward suggests
having the dog enter. Unanimous protests from
the judges. What! Never, but never, does one let
a dog enter a pen of sheep. Milord gave us a good
show: this animal so gentle, so careful with 10
sheep, transformed itself, grew lively, working
from the head to the tail of the flock without
too much biting. It was truly admirable.
It remains to see nos. 12 against 15 for the
first and second prizes; nos. 11 and 1 for the
fourth and fifth prizes.
#12 Menneke is very careful, he doesn't make
a mistake. All of the large flock passes by, the
dog recovers them very well and continues well
to the end. The only reproach to his work, is
that he works a little too much towards the head
only.
If
the jury had counted up the points mechanically,
Menneke would have captured them, but "all
liberty is left to the judges to form their evaluation
and make their decision."
Now, they find Milord by far superior to the
little black dog.
#1 Poets doesn't make a mistake.
#11 Paul lets the sheep pass outside of the
stakes; further on, they leave the course again.
The Jury deliberates. Two judges vote for Milord,
two for Menneke, the fifth abstains. Asked to
give a decision, he votes for Milord. Results:
1st- Milord; 2nd- Menneke; 3rd- Voss; 4th- Poets;
5th- Paul; 6th- Basoef .
The other contestants called back for the second
day, nos. 3. 6, 14, 20 and 22, receive a diploma.
Prizes of 100, 80, 60, 40, 20 F. and a certificate.
------------------------------------------------
A subsequent section in L'Historique du Berger
Belge contains additional comments on the above
trial, included in an account of activities of
the Belgian Sheepdog Club:
The club, in cooperation with the Colley Club,
has organized a great exposition on the premises
of the new slaugherhouse of Curaghem. More than
that, to the two clubs united falls by right the
honor of having organized the first trials of
sheepdogs on the continent. The dogs driving the
flocks were judged by specialists coming from
all parts of the country. The contestants were
all professional shepherds. The president hopes
that at the next trials the public will see equally
the dogs of amateurs. If their success has been
very great, the financial results have been far
from satisfactory. The extraordinary expenses
made on this occasion can be avoided in the future
thanks to the experience gained. Moreover, we
have seen from the accounts of the treasurer that
the total deficit doesn't rise above 203 francs,
which scarcely jeopardizes the existence of the
club.
The judges of the club have functioned once again
to the arrangements of the Schipperke Club. The
new trials, whose program is under consideration,
are to be organized at Spa, under the patronage
of the Royal St. Hubert Society [Belgian Kennel
Club].
---------------------
In
a following section, the author of the book
comments: "It appears to me interesting to
publish two articles that discuss the driving
of sheep by sheepdogs, inasmuch as this activity
has disappeared nowadays, or nearly," and
under the heading, "Sheepdog trials (1)",
more of the old account is reprinted:
The
trials of sheepdogs are soon going to be generalized
on the continent. Brussels has set
a good example. Lyon will follow suit next July,
the Phylax society will not remain inactive in
Germany. The work of dogs will vary according
to the customs of each country, but the principles
will remain the same. It will be interesting then
to investigate in what different ways this useful
and inoffensive sport is practiced in England
. . . [Then follows a description of British trials,
with three "Mountain" sheep being worked
over the familiar ISDS type of course]. Under
the next heading, "Sheepdog Trials (2):
We were saying not long ago that after Brussels
the first trials of shepherd dogs on the continent
will take place in Bordeaux, under the patronage
of the Society of courses of Bonneterre. We have
learned to our great regret that, for particular
reasons, the competition committee had decided
to put back to the next year their international
canine exposition, and consequently their trials
of shepherd dogs.
The probabilities are therefore that after the
trials of Brussels will follow those of Spa next
August.
Meanwhile
we continue to investigate the different manners
of working the dogs. That which follows
is drawn from "Stock Keeper" by Geo.
F. B., Somerset near Derby [then follow comments
on British trialling taken from "Stock Keeper",
which include the comment that the only sheep
suitable for trials are the "wild" sheep
of Wales and Scotland, and it is noted with regard
to sheep that the Scottish and Welsh sheep are
much more managable than "ours"(that
is, English) of long wool; a dog must be rougher
and more enterprising with these, the ewes and
the lambs above all demand to be pushed.]
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